1. Do you recall how once we lived in darkness,
and slavery to misery and sin?
God led us from that land beyond the river, Joshua 24:3
and brought us home to live in love with Him.
Now we will speak the saving acts of Jesus,
we will not hide them from our children's hearts, Psalm 78:4
so that they trust the Lord and not forget Him; Psalm 78:7
Then they may cross across the river of fresh starts.

2. Now we are saved, what do we with salvation?
Do we rejoice that we at least won't burn,
with gritted teeth and eyes held tightly shuttered,
just waiting for the day our Lord returns?
If we do that, the day will not bring our hope;
that day will bring us darkness and not light. Amos 5:18
No - we have grace to pour upon this world's drought:
Let justice roll on like a river in God's sight. Amos 5:24

3. Yes, it is true: another river waits there
for those the Lord takes home one day with Him.
When will that be? We neither know the hour nor day; Matthew 25:13
so we must strive to fill the days till then.
We must keep watch, and not be sleeping at the end, Matthew 25:13
when Christ comes down from heav'n with trumpet call;
may we be found always down by the river,
speaking of life in Christ that waits this side for all.

4. Do you recall how once we lived in darkness,
and slavery to misery and sin?
God led us from that land beyond the river, Joshua 24:3
and brought us home to live in love with Him.
Now we will speak the saving acts of Jesus,
we will not hide them from our children's hearts, Psalm 78:4
so that they trust the Lord and not forget Him; Psalm 78:7
Then they may cross across the river of fresh starts.

Based on Revised Common Lectionary (A) for 32nd Sunday in ordinary time: